I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2780 

To require the Secretary of State to develop and maintain an international 

diplomatic and assistance strategy to stop the flow of illicit opioids, 

including fentanyl, into the United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 16, 2019 

Mr. MCCAUL (for himself and Mr. SIRES) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of State to develop and maintain 

an international diplomatic and assistance strategy to 

stop the flow of illicit opioids, including fentanyl, into 

the United States, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Save American Fami5 lies Everywhere from Illicit Foreign Opioids Act’’ or the 

6 ‘‘SAFE from Illicit Foreign Opioids Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

8 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) From 1999–2017, nearly 400,000 people in 

2 the United States died from opioid overdose. 

3 (2) Overdose deaths from opioids have in4 creased nearly six-fold since 1999, killing approxi5 mately 130 Americans every day. 

6 (3) Since 2013, there has been a significant in7 crease in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, 

8 particularly fentanyl. 

9 (4) Opioids, especially synthetic opioids such as 

10 fentanyl, are currently the main driver of drug over11 dose deaths, and were involved in nearly 68 percent 

12 of all drug overdose deaths in 2017. 

13 (5) Fentanyl illicitly trafficked into the United 

14 States from abroad is significantly responsible for 

15 the ongoing fentanyl epidemic. 

16 (6) The vast majority of heroin used in the 

17 United States comes from Mexico, and fentanyl gen18 erally originates from sources in China. 

19 (7) Illicit opioids are trafficked into the United 

20 States through a variety of routes, including over21 land across the Southwest border, and through on22 line orders that are shipped by international mail 

23 and express consignment services. 

24 (8) Because these illicit drugs originate almost 

25 exclusively from overseas, stopping these drug flows 


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1 requires enhanced foreign policy engagement by the 

2 United States. 

3 SEC. 3. INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY TO STOP ILLICIT 

4 OPIOID FLOWS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in con6 junction with the heads of other Federal agencies, as ap7 propriate, shall develop and maintain an international dip8 lomatic and assistance strategy to stop the flow of illicit 

9 opioids into the United States. 

10 (b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required under sub11 section (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following: 

12 (1) A clear statement of the goals and objec13 tives of the strategy. 

14 (2) A description of the activities and tools nec15 essary to implement the strategy. 

16 (3) An identification of concrete benchmarks to 

17 judge progress in implementing the strategy. 

18 (4) A description of the programs and activities 

19 currently underway in support of the strategy. 

20 (5) Information on efforts and activities funded 

21 or implemented in foreign countries by other Federal 

22 agencies relevant to the strategy. 

23 (c) PRIORITIES.—The strategy required under sub24 section (a), and the activities and assistance used to impleVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:03 May 31, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2780.IH H2780

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1 ment the strategy, should, at a minimum, prioritize the 

2 following: 

3 (1) Reducing the illicit production of opioids, 

4 including by better enforcement of controls to deny 

5 producers of illicit synthetic drugs access to pre6 cursor chemicals. 

7 (2) Strengthening the capacity of partner coun8 tries to detect, interdict, and share information on 

9 opioid threats. 

10 (3) Increasing the ability and political will of 

11 foreign countries to target online opioid sales, associ12 ated financial flows, and the use of postal systems 

13 and shipping services to transport illicit opioids, in14 cluding fentanyl. 

15 (4) Improving the international legal framework 

16 for drug control to better keep pace with rapidly 

17 evolving synthetic drug threats. 

18 (5) Developing and enhancing partnerships with 

19 governments, industry, and international organiza20 tions to combat current and emerging opioid threats. 

21 (6) Supporting international efforts to decrease 

22 global demand for illicit opioids. 

23 (d) REPORT AND UPDATE ON STRATEGY.—Not later 

24 than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act 

25 and annually thereafter for seven years, the Secretary of 


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1 State shall submit to the appropriate congressional com2 mittees a report consisting of the following: 

3 (1) The strategy required under subsection (a). 

4 (2) Beginning with the second report required 

5 under this subsection, a list and description of the 

6 following: 

7 (A) Benchmarks achieved since the imme8 diately preceding report. 

9 (B) Any United States programs or activi10 ties in support of the strategy initiated since 

11 the immediately preceding report. 

12 (C) A list and description of concrete ac13 tions and commitments by foreign countries 

14 and multilateral institutions since the imme15 diately preceding report relevant to the strat16 egy. 

17 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ACTIVI18 TIES TO STOP ILLICIT OPIOID FLOWS. 

19 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec20 retary of State for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021— 

21 (1) not less than $12,500,000 for centrally 

22 funded drug supply reduction activities by the Bu23 reau of International Narcotics and Law Enforce24 ment Affairs of the Department of State; and 


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1 (2) not less than $12,500,000 for centrally 

2 funded demand reduction activities by the Bureau. 

Æ 


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